[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S3369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       A TRIBUTE TO THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA FOR WORLDWIDE GOOD DEEDS

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, at a time when citizen participation and 
volunteerism are uniquely important in addressing problems of our 
society, with the contemplated reduction of governmental expenditures I 
consider it worthwhile to note the important humanitarian contributions 
of The Sovereign Order Of Malta and its American foundation, the 
American Knights and Dames.
  Some of the important activities of The Knights of Malta have been 
called to my attention by a longstanding friend and distinguished 
Philadelphia lawyer, Mr. James Binns:

       (1) This year the Order plans to support the Medical 
     Research Center of New York University, for finding and 
     improving the care, and prevention of Parkinson's Disease and 
     Movement Disorders, which unfortunately affects more and more 
     people every day.
       (2) This year also, a 400-bed hospital and a byomedical 
     university is now under construction in Frosinone, Italy, for 
     all students from throughout the world.
       (3) For Christmas 1994 the Order donated food, toys and 
     clothing to an entire orphanage in Oradea, Rumania.
       (4) In 1992 in the State of Nueva Esparta, Venezuela, the 
     Order donated medical equipment to the Civil Defense and to 
     the Firefighter. In 1993, substantial humanitarian help was 
     sent by the Order to Fiume, Yugoslavia, through the Red 
     Cross.
       (5) In 1988 a ``Proclamation'' was signed by Prime Minister 
     Yitzchak Shamir, with a special Ambassador of the Order, sent 
     to Israel, to encourage the spirit of ``Vatican II'', that 
     Jews and Christians are brothers and sisters under Almighty 
     God. Further, to uphold through dialogue, commerce and 
     diplomacy, the World Council of Nations to recognize the 
     State of Israel's inherent rights through Her Sovereign 
     History in perpetuity, as stated in the United Nations 
     Resolution of November 29, 1947.
       (6) In 1984 in Rome, Italy, the Order collected over a 
     million US dollars for the Institute, ``Regina Elena'', 
     specializing in the research of the Hyperthermic Treatment or 
     Cancer.
       (7) In 1980 the Belgium branch of the Order donated medical 
     assistance to Africa and a special machine to be utilized for 
     the search of water.
       (8) In 1978, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, an orphanage for 
     900 children, was founded with complete facilities, including 
     a school up to the 8th grade.

  These humanitarian contributions continue activities of The Knights 
of Malta which originated with the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in 
1099 with assistance to the wounded when the first crusaders arrived at 
the Holy City.
  After being expelled from Jerusalem in 1291, the Knights established 
a new headquarters of the Order at Limassol in Cyprus until 1309. They 
fortified the city and laid down the armaments regulations for the 
vessels carrying traders and pilgrims to the Holy Land. In doing so, 
the maritime power of the Order was established and the Mediterranean 
Sea was substantially liberated from pirates.
  The Knights continuously played a significant role with the siege of 
the Island of Rhodes in 1309, the defeat of the Ottomans who attempted 
to seize Rhodes in 1480 and the later battle with the Ottomans in 1522 
resulting in the Knights leaving for Candia in 1523. After the Holy 
Roman Emperor Charles V ruler of Spain and Sicily granted the Island of 
Malta to the Order, the Knights of Malta reigned over Malta until 1798. 
After the surrender of the Island to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798, many 
of the Knights returned to their own countries forming different 
commanderies.
  During the 19th and 20th centuries, The Knights of Malta sought to 
avoid political affairs in order to pursue philanthropic activities 
which its 40,000 members do to this day.
  The Knights of Malta, with its unique history over nine centuries, 
have established a model for worldwide efforts which should inspire 
other individuals and organizations to do similar good deeds.


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